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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1420-1500, 1552-1586

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Argument, n. [ME. (Chaucer), F. argument, L. argumentum.]

1. Argumentation.c1420 Wynt. v. 5258; etc.
The Devill come … For till fand hym wyth argument
1456 Hay I. 139/5.
A gude jurist wald sustene … grete argument tharapon
c1420 Ratis Raving 1286.
Scho … can nocht … ansuer weil to argwment
a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2669.
This causis all thar argument
a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS xxix. 125.
I man … ȝeild to thame and quyte the argument

2. An alleged reason; an argument.c1420 Wynt. viii. 647.
Makand mony … argumentis in thare collatyownys
1456 Hay I. 100/21.
This argument is na worth
1456 Ib. 119/24; etc.
Nocht gaynstandand all thir argumentis
a1500 Henr. Fab. 2276.
Thy argument is fals
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 672.
Lat Doctoris wrytt thare curious questionis And argumentis
1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/1.
Sum theme, argument, or sentence

1330

dost